How to Find the Right Editor for Your Self-Published Novel
by Bryony Leah
Searching for a freelance editor can be an overwhelming task,
especially if this is your first time publishing a novel.
You might feel like a fish out of water when it comes to self-publishing, but the good news is, most of your anxieties can be resolved by simply knowing what to look for and doing your research well in advance.
I work full-time as a freelance editor and writer, so I can certainly empathize with the need to find the “right” person to sharpen your novel for publication; the one who really “gets” your story and the direction you’re taking.
But there’s more to it than that, isn’t there?
As with every stage of the self-publishing process, you have to be savvy when it comes to finding a freelance editor.
To help you feel confident at this exciting time, here’s my checklist of essential steps for authors who want to find a trustworthy professional to edit their novel.
1. Ask the freelance editor to complete a sample edit.
Sample edits will give authors an insight into an editor’s style and provide an example of what you can expect from a full manuscript edit. Additionally, they are important tools for editors in figuring out the estimated timescale and cost of editing your novel. Not to mention, this is a first chance for you both to see if you’re going to be a compatible team.
It should be a red flag if a freelance editor declines to complete a sample edit before you work together. You deserve to know what you’re signing up for.
At the time of writing this article, I offer free sample edits to all authors interested in my freelance editing services, but there are many freelancers who charge a small fee to complete a sample edit. There is no right or wrong way when it comes to charging (or not charging) for a sample; every editor will have a different process, and it’s a good rule to not expect anything for free.
It can take a few days to get your sample chapter back from a freelancer, but always be patient and polite and remember that editors have busy schedules and deadlines to keep just like you. Definitely don’t forget to say thank you to a freelancer for completing a sample edit—even if you don’t end up working together!
(FYI, it’s totally okay if it turns out you aren’t a compatible match. No editor is right for every author, and a professional freelance editor will always respect your decision in this. If they take offense when you raise genuine questions about the sample edit, consider this another red flag.)
2. Find out if the freelance editor is a member of professional editorial societies/associations.
There are lots of professional societies and associations for editors that provide training and development opportunities, news and updates, business support and guidance, and altogether give freelance editors a wider perspective on the industry to help them offer the best service to their clients.
It’s an extra mark of credibility and reassurance if your editor is a member of such organizations. Some of the most common include the Editorial Freelancers Association, the Society for Editors and Proofreaders, and ACES: The Society for Editing.
Note: Many of these organizations have online member directories that allow you to search for an editor to work with, so it’s useful to research associations and societies in your country if you’re still in the early stages of finding a freelance editor.
3. Pay attention to a freelance editor’s reviews.
Would you trust an editor with your novel if you knew they’d never worked on another person’s manuscript before?
Arguably one of the most important things to consider when searching for a freelance editor is what their current and past clients have to say about their services.
Most freelance editors will display reviews on their website (for example, you can read reviews from some of the authors I’ve worked with right here), or if they don’t display any reviews publicly, they should be able to provide you with some recommendations from past clients when you approach them by email.
When reading a freelance editor’s reviews, be sure to check that each one is from a legitimate author or business. You can always Google search the author’s name if you’re not sure. Just beware of those “reviews” that can’t be attributed to any named individual…
4. Ask to see a list of titles the freelance editor has worked on.
Similar to above, be sure to check that your freelance editor has worked on other books before. They’ll usually showcase a list of titles they’ve edited on their website along with any reviews of their services, but you can always ask privately if not.
Remember, an editor’s name won’t necessarily be listed in the book’s copy (though it’s always a lovely bonus to see my name mentioned in the acknowledgments or front matter of a book I’ve worked on!) and it’s not always possible to know whether they were responsible for copy editing, proofreading, or assisting developmentally with the manuscript in its early stages.
You can ask the editor directly, but always be respectful of boundaries when it comes to researching an editor’s past work.
5. Find out if the freelance editor has been trained.
I’m a writer too, and before I started working as an editor, I assumed editing was simply a task of endurance and skill, something that developed with time and practice and could only be done by those who were excellent writers.
To some extent, I was only half-wrong (editing is a skill that develops over time), but now I know that professional editing is a separate skill from writing, and not every editor is necessarily a writer as well.
Editorial training helps editors to develop their craft (editing) in such a way that their insight will help you to develop your craft (writing) while subsequently strengthening your manuscript to meet readers’ expectations and to suit industry style guides.
Freelance editors will typically tell you about their professional training on their websites or profiles, but it doesn’t hurt to ask an editor about the training they have received. Keep in mind that there is no one route into editing, and editorial training can be taken with a number of different organizations, either online or in-person, as part of a program or as a focused course, or even while working in-house as an employee.
Knowing that your freelance editor has received editorial training is a sure sign that they are invested in their craft and care about professional development.
Beware: Any editor who tells you they are “fully trained” or they have “completed all training” is showcasing a mindset that they don’t have any more to learn. This is never true. A good editor will understand that there is always more to learn, and skills continue to develop and adapt with time and experience even after completing a professional training program.
6. Are you comfortable communicating with the freelance editor?
Good communication is just as important as finding an editor who understands your story. I’m usually right here at my desk when an email arrives in my inbox, however, many freelancers edit part-time and won’t be available to reply to emails immediately.
It’s not healthy to expect that your editor will be at your beck and call 24/7 either (even those of us who edit full-time work to regular business hours, and every editor has other authors and projects on their schedule), but if you find that you’re consistently waiting days between replies, this isn’t a very good sign.
Similarly, trust your instinct if you feel that something’s just a little “off” with the communication you have been receiving from a freelance editor. Sometimes, you just know when a partnership isn’t going to work, and that’s okay.
There are plenty more editorially inclined fish in the sea after all, so cast your net with confidence: You’ll find the right one!
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Bryony Leah is a freelance editor and writer who loves heart-stopping stories with unpredictable twists and irresistible romances. She is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and trains with the Society for Editors and Proofreaders.
You can hire Bryony to copy edit, proofread, or help developmentally with your novel by contacting her directly at bryony at bryonyleah dot com.
Alternatively, visit her website for more information, reviews from past clients, and pricing at www.bryonyleah.com. You can also connect with Bryony on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
